Machine for spirally impressing wire or the like



(NoModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. L. GODDU.

MACHINE FOR SPIRALLY IMPRESSING WIRE OR THE LIKE. v No. 581%9. PatentedApr. 27, 1897.

wfiessea. fifiwemz pr loads audio! (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. GODDU. MAGHINE FOR SPIRALLY IMPRESSING WIRE OR THE LIKE. No. 581,459.Patented Apr. 27, 1897.

A k 75 7f 5' U J J v I UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

LOUIS GODDU, OF WVINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES W. BROOKS,PRINCIPAL TRUSTEE, OF PETERSHAM, AND FRANK F. STANLEY, ASSOCIATETRUSTEE, OF SIVAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR SPIRALLY IMPRESSING WIRE OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 581,459, dated April27, 1897.

Application filed December 18, 1895. Serial No. 572,575. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Louis GonDU, of Winchester, county of Middlesex,State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines forSpirally Impressing fire or the Like, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

To This invention relates to machines for spirally impressing orspirally threading wire or other equivalent substantially cylindricalbody. In machines for this purpose as heretofore constructed the cutteror cutters for forming the spiral impressions or threads have beenmounted upon a rotatable carrier usually made hollow in order that thewire may be fed longitudinally along and in the direction of the axis ofthe carrier, means being provided not only to positively feed the wire,but also to positively rotate the carrier and its detached cutter orcutters to cause the latter to cut or impress a spiral groove orimpression in or upon the wire. It has usu- 2 5 ally been consideredessential in machines of this type that the rotating carrier with itsat-- tached cutters be positively geared to or connected with thewire-feeding devices in order that the two might always and under allcon- 0 ditions move in fixed relation with each other. Because of thisconnection or gearing of the two mechanisms (the cutting and feedingmechanisms) together,the rapidity with which the wire could be fedthrough the machine and 5 the spiralthreads'or impressions formedthereupon have been limited by the limitations of the proper mechanisms.In my studies to simplify machines of this class and at the same timecheapen the product and produce the 0 same with greater rapidity thanheretofore I have found that by arranging the cutters or impressiondevices in certain angular positions with relation to the direction offeed of the wire and by mounting the carrier in such 5 a manner that itmay revolve with the greatest possible freedom it is possible to drawthe wire positively through the machine and in contact with the cuttersor impression devices and by such contact with the moving wire cause thedevices to make the impression or cut into the wire and at the same timecause automatic rotation of the carrier and its attached cutters orimpressing devices to direct the cuts .or impressions in a spiraldirection a'round'the wire.

Herein broadly lies my present invention, and by means of it I amenabled to dispense with all connections or gearing between the wiredrawing or feeding devices and the ro tatable carrier heretoforeconsidered neces- 6o sary to thereby .move the wire at a rate of speedmuch higher than could be practical with any sort of connectingmechanism employed. Again, where the wire feeding and cutting orimpression devices are connected or geared together they must rotate atcertain relative speeds, and if by reason of Wear or poor adjustment thetiming of the two mechanisms is not as it should be the result mustinevitably be an imperfect and -dis- 7o torted product. If, also, thereshould be slip between the Wire-feeding devices and the wire, it will beevident the thread-cutting devices will operate at a higher speedrelative to the longitudinal feed of the wire than should be the case.By my invention, however, the rotation of the carrier, on which aremounted the cutters or impressing devices, is derived from and musttherefore be automatically regulated by and to meet the varying 8ospeeds with which the wire is fed, so that it can never be out of timetherewith-in other words, the rotation of thecarrier and its attachedtools or cutters and devices is automatically regulated and driven fromand by the wire on which it acts, and not by some other device,which mayor not move in fixed relation to the wire.

While my invention is not necessarily limited to any particular pitch ofspiral, yet it 0 is especially useful in the production of the longspirally grooved or threaded wire used in the manufacture of boots andshoes and commonly known as cable screw-wire. It is particularly usefulin connection with wire 5 of this class which is driven, asdistinguished from wire which is screwed, into the stock. For the bestresults, in order that the carrier may rotate with the utmost freedom,to be sensitive and responsive to all variations in the speed with whichthe wire is fed, I have found it desirable to mount the carrier inantifrietion or ball bearings, and when rotatable cutters or impressiondevices are employed I find it desirable to also mount the same on ballor antifriction bearin gs.

The above, together with other features of my invention, will behereinafter particularly described in the specification, and pointed outin the claims.

By pulling the wire between the rolls and compelling it to rotate therolls the friction of the rolls is utilized to not only impress or cut agroove, but to make the said groove so as to leave a ragged helical finon one side thereof, said fin being thrown up from and of largerdiameter than the body of the wire, the fin aiding the fastening madefrom the wire to enter the stock, and it also acts to prevent thewithdrawal of the fastening from the stock.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine containingone embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan view of themachine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a vertical section on the dotted line00 m, Fig. 1, looking toward the right; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail,)artially in section, of the carrier, its bearings, and the impressingdevices rotatably mounted thereon; Fig. 5, a left-hand end view of thecarrier with the impressing devices; Fig. 6, a longitudinal section onthe irregular section-line x at, Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a sectional detailshowing the cutter or impressing device bearing, the section being takenon the dot-ted line (1: 50 Fig. 5; and Fig. 8, a cross-section on thedotted line 00 :0 Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings in the embodiment of my invention there shownfor illustration of the same, A is the frame or support, of suitableshape and construction to sustain the several working parts, said framein the present instance being provided with an upright bracket orstandard a, the head of which is adapted to receive the shank h of thefreely-rotatable carrier B.

In the embodiment shown the head of the bracket a is counterbored at itsopposite sides, surrounding the bearing for the shank b to receive theantifriction devices 0, (shown as balls,) the same being confined intheir track at one side of the bracket by the loose hardened-steelwasher c, and at the opposite side of the bracket by the milled nut 0screwed upon the threaded end of the shank.

b and provided, it may be, with a set-screw c to fix it in adjustedposition on said shank.

The balls 0 0 provide lateral bearin gs for the rotating carrier 13 andare also adapted to receive any end thrust in the direction of the arrow5, Fig. 4. The principal end thrust, however, in the operation of themachine is in a direction opposite to the arrow 5viz., as indicated bythe arrow 6and to receive this end thrust I have provided the carrier 13with a flange or lip 12, which isprovidcd at its face adjacent the loosewasher c with a ring-like groove or depression adapted to receive aseries of antifriction devices 0, (also shown as balls,) which rollbetween the said flange or lip and washer c, referred to.

In the operation of the machine the loose washer 0 may remain stationaryand the two series of balls 0 and 0 roll thereon, or, as is usually thecase, the said washer rotates freely under the action of the ballsrolling upon its opposite surfaces, thus providing a freedom of actionand ease of rotation which is very desirable, particularly as itprovides for a proper movement should any of the balls from any cause beprevented from rolling.

The carrier B is made hollow longitudinally to receive the wire 10, uponwhich the spiral impressions 0r threads are formed, the said wire beingmoved in a line substantially eoineiding with the axis of rotation ofthe carrier. At its end opposite the milled nut c the carrier B isprovided with an enlarged head constructed and adapted to hold one ormore cutters or impression devices, which in the preferred constructionare rotatably mounted upon the said carrier.

In the present embodiment of my invention the carrier-head b is providedat its ends with a plurality of bearing studs or screws (Z, which, asshown, are set askew with one another or with the axis of the carrierand receive upon them the freely-rotatable impressing or groovingdevices 6.

Referring particularly to the details Figs. 7 and 8, each impressingdevice 6 is shown as comprising a suitable hub between which and thestud or screws cl I have arranged a series of anti'frietion devices 0,(shown as rollers,) so that the lateral bearing of the impressing deviceupon the stud is an antifriction-bearing. lhe carrier-head Z1 is alsoprovided with a ring-like groove surrounding the stud and which receivesa series of antifriction de' vices e (shown as balls,) which receive theend thrust of the impressing device while at work. In the preferredconstruction I interpose be tween the impressing device and theantifriction device e a loose washer e, as shown. In the embodiment ofmy invention shown, therefore, not only the carrier is mounted inantifriction or ball bearings, but the impressing devices or theirequivalent cutters are likewise mounted upon ball or roller bearings'upon the carrier, and I thereby obtain such diameters and to provideready-means of adjusting the head and its impressing devices to wires ofdifferent diameter. I have made the said head conical in shape andprovide it with an exterior thread to be engaged by theinteriorlythreaded conical adjustingsleeve E.

The natural resiliency or spring of the material of which thecarrier-head is composed tends to spread the members of the head, Whilethey are compressed for wires of smaller diameter by rotation of theconical sleeve E.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the wire moving in thedirection of the arrow 6, Fig. 4, and of the arrow, Fig. 1, beforereaching the impressing devices, is preferably passed through a suitableguide f, and I also preferably provide a suitable guide f at theopposite side of the bracket a, so that the wire is suitably guidedbefore reaching and after leaving the impressing devices. As a means toreceive the spirally impressed or threaded wire and also for the presentembodiment of my invention to provide means for positively moving ordrawing the wire past and in operative contact or in engagein ent withthe impressing devices I have provided a reel F, (shown as removablymounted upon a shaft f journaled in a suitable bearingin a bracket f onthe frame A,) said reel being preferably clamped upon said shaft bymeans of a suitable hand-nutfflscrewed upon the threaded end of theshaft, thus providing ready means for removing the reel when it isfilled and substituting therefor an empty reel. At its end opposite thereel F the shaft f is shown as provided with a bevel-wheel f in meshwith and driven by the beveled pinion f, fast onthe rear end of a shaftf mounted in suitable bearings f on the frame.

This shaft f is provided intermediate its bearing-surface f with aspur-wheel f in mesh with and driven by a spur-pin f on thedriving-shaft f, mounted in suitable bearings f also on the frame, andprovided with suitable fast and loose pulleys f f or other suitabledriving devices.

The operation of the machine is a follows, viz: The end of the wire isfirst passed through the carrier-head and secured in suitable manner tothe reel, and in doing this the members of the carrier-head may betemporarily opened to enable the wire to be easily drawn through.Afterward they are adjusted by means of the threaded sleeve E, toproduce the desired spiral impressions in the Wire. The machine is nowset in' operation and the rotation of the reel F in the direction of thearrow thereon, Fig. 1, acts to draw the wire to at the desired speedthrough the carrier and in contact with the impressing devices 6,carried thereby. This contact of the wire with the impressing devicesacts first to cause the impressing devices to make an impression in thesurface of the wire, and because of the angular or askew positions ofthe-impressing devices with relation to the line of travel of the wirethe carrier, with its attached impressing devices, is rotated about theaxis of the wire to cause the impressions to be laid in a spiraldirection around the traveling wire, one side of the groove having lefton it a spiral projecting fin. The contact or engagement of thepositively-drawn wire with the impressing devices acts not only torotate the impressing devices about their own axes tially true spiralsaround the axis of the wire.

It will be observed that the carrier (and by this term I mean simplyproper means to support and carry the impressing devices) and also theimpressing devices are entirely without means for imparting to the samea positive movement, so that such movement or movements is or arederived directly from or by reason of contact with the impressingdevices with the wire.

Having in mind the novel manner in which, by my invention, the spiralimpressions are formed in the wire, the necessity for absolute freedomof rotation of the carrierand its attached impressing devices will beapparent, for if there is not perfect freedom of rotation the carrierwill not follow and respond to changes in the speed of and changes inthe movements of the wire.

To swing the spirally-inn pressed wire evenly upon the reel, I haveprovided a pair of guiderollers h h, journaled upon the horizontal rodh, adjustably mounted upon an arm 7L rising from the horizontal slidingshaft 71, mounted in suitable bearings h in the frame. A spring 8 on theshaft h tends to. move the arm h constantly to the right with its rolleror other stud b always in operative contact with the heart-shaped cam 71on the shaft h journaled in the bracket f and provided with a worm-wheelh (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3,) in mesh with and driven by a worm 71out in or mounted on the reel-shaftfi, whereby rotation of thereel-shaft and its attached reel causes the guide it" to travel back andforth and lay the spirally-impressed wire evenly upon the reel. In thepresent instance the .impressin g devices e are provided withcircumferential grooves e (see Fig. 7,) but it should be distinctlyunderstood that my invention is not limited to grooved or even rotatableimpressing devices.

My invention is not limited to the particular embodiment herein shown,for it is evident the invention claimed may be embodied in otherconstructions or mechanisms without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Having described one embodiment of my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for spirally impressing wire and the like, thecombination with a suitable frame, of a freely-revoluble carrier,spirallyarranged wire-impressing devices mounted in said carrier, andmeans to positively move the Wire longitudinally in contact with saidimpressing devices and in substantially the line of the axis of thecarrier, whereby the latter is enabled to readily and freely respond tothe movements of the wire, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, ofa freely-rotatable carrier mounted therein, one or more impressingdevices arranged in an angular position upon the said carrier, a reel,and means unconnected to said carrier to positively rotate the same todraw the wire past and in operative contact with said impressing deviceor devices to be impressed thereby, and to cause rotation of thecarrier, said rotation laying the impressions in a spiral directionaround the wire, substantially as described.

In a machine of the class described, the combination with means formoving the wire, of a rotatable carrier entirely independent of saidmeans provided with one or more wiredriven spiral-impressin g devicesarranged in an angular position to the length of the wire, andantifriction-bearin gs for the said carrier, whereby the latter isenabled to readily and freely respond to the movements of the wire,substantially as described.

4. In ainachine of the class described, the combination with a frame andmeans for movin g the wire, of a rotatable carrier, rotated by themovement of said wire, one or more spially-arranged wire-impressin gdevices rotatably mounted on the said carrier, and antifriction-bearingsfor the carrier and also for the spiral-impressing device or devices,whereby the latter is enabled to readily and freely respond to themovements of the wire, substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the frameand wire-moving devices, of a rotatable split carrier, spiralimpressingdevices on the respective members of said carrier, and means to expandand contract the said split carrier to adapt said impressing devices towires of varying diameter, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS GODDU.

Witnesses:

Gno. W. GREGORY, MARGARET A. DUNN.

